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Hey, Ottawa! Did you hear? Our friends and busker fanatics over at HOT 89.9 have your chance to get out with the fam and win the ultimate sleepover on Sparks Street! Ottawa International Buskerfest on Sparks Street, July 29 - August 1, 2022 You could win: Two night weekend stay at ReStays; Downtown Ottawa's Boutique Hotel Two nights of underground parking ReStays In-Suite VIP Surprise & Delights Four Tickets to Rag Bag Cabaret SATURDAY JUL 30 @ 9:00 PM Four Tickets to Buskers and Burlesque SUNDAY JULY 31 @ 9:00PM (Age 18+) $200 in gift cards towards your favourite foodie spots on Sparks Street (hurray for patio season!) ENTER TO WIN WITH HOT 89.9 DO IT. RIGHT HERE: I WANNA WIN Get in on all the family fun with Ottawa International Buskerfest on Sparks! ReStays, Luxury stay designed to feel like home

Ottawa International Buskerfest Returns to Sparks Street July 29 - August 1, 2022! JULY 7, 2022 Sparks Street BIA is head over heels to welcome back our beloved and highly talented street performers for Ottawa’s International Buskerfest! Our festival lineup of acts can’t wait to have you laughing, questioning WHAT??? HOW?!!! Daily FREE performances run August long weekend! Friday, July 29 11AM - 10PM until Monday, August 1 with a Grand Finale at 5PM! Check out the festivities from Elgin Street to Lyon Street with pitches mapped out for flow and family fun! (Tips $ are highly encouraged to support the artists but no pressure!) “This year, we're delighted to be presenting an All-Canadian performer lineup. Canadian artists need our support this year more than ever. Each year we bring in superstar performers from around the world, this year we're working with many of our amazing Canadian artists who are often entertaining on stages and streets all over the world. Come out and enjoy hilarious, high flying, family fun on Sparks Street! We're bringing back our late-night ticketed events - the Buskers and Burlesque show, and the Rag Bag cabaret. These shows are not-to be missed, they are always hilarious, somewhat risqué, and full of the best of the festival in a cabaret setting in the ballroom of the Marriott Hotel. It's a great date night, or the perfect end to an afternoon at Buskerfest...” - Event Producer, Brian Wilson, Orbital Talent. “Looking forward to the return of such a fun and vibrant family event on Sparks Street” - Ian Wright, Owner of The Snow Goose Ltd. and Board Chair of Sparks Street BIA. Visit the official Ottawa International Buskerfest webpage at ottawabuskerfestival.com and follow us on social for the latest info! Tag #OttBuskerfest with all your adventures. CHECK OUT THESE DAZZLING PRO-PERFORMERS HERE TO ROCK BUSKERFEST 2022: The Checkerboard Guy The go anywhere do anything comic daredevil. Dan the One Man Band On-beat music with off-beat humour! NorthFIRE Circus A fire show like no other! Monsters of Schlock The world’s most extreme two man circus sideshow comedy magic extravaganza. Paz Hockey Circus Show A family friendly hockey tribute that combines acrobatics, juggling, and one-of-a-kind circus stunts into 3 periods of “arena“ rocking fun. Sharon Mahoney A feminine comedian powerhouse… with a split personality. Spring Action High flying fun on the trampoline. Rockabilly Joe A circus artist and street performer with a 1950’s twist. Tex Rexman Whips, lasso tricks and comedy. Byron Bertram Stand-up comedy, juggling and escapes. PLUS! Catch amazing unscheduled performances from balloon artists, face-painters, and strolling performers......you never know who (or what) you’ll see! See you at the pitch! With big, huge, standing ovation applause and thanks to our Festival Partners: Media Partner: Event Partner: Web Producer: Talent Producer: SSBIA continues to encourage Ottawa Public Health guidelines and safety protocols as we work closely with them and other partners, including the City of Ottawa, Ottawa Festivals, Ottawa Tourism, and Ottawa Coalition of BIAs. Media Contact: Kevin McHale Executive Director Sparks Street BIA & Mall Authority kevin@sparkslive.com

The music is back on Sparks this summer!! We're thrilled to be partnering for the second year in a row with Ottawa Music Industry Coalition (OMIC) to bring City Sounds back to the downtown core with more FREE LIVE Music!! Talented musical artists will be serenading Sparks Street the weekend of July 9 - 10, 2022! Here's the lineup for The Shed on Sparks! Saturday July 9: 7:00 PM: 'Rappers in the Round' featuring J Morris, Lance Lorenzo, and Aocelyn 8:45 PM: The Radicals Sunday July 10: 5:00 PM: 'Songwriters Circle' featuring Emma Bayash, Emma Lamontagne, and Jason Daniels 6:45 PM: 'Woke Studios in the Round' featuring Banggz, T. Chandy and Tiger Tchakounté Head to #MySparksStreet for shopping, restaurant patios, & free live music! Find The Shed located on Sparks between O'Connor and Bank streets. Follow the Ottawa Music Industry Coalition’s Facebook Page for regular updates.

Our beloved Shed will be hosting its 3rd year of tunes on Sparks! That's right, we're bringing back the tunes! Every Tuesday and Thursday from 12 p.m. - 2 p.m. you can catch live local talents in The Shed on Sparks Street between O'Connor and Bank! Find the weekly lineup, links to the artists, and more on our dedicated Songs from the Shed page! We'll be updating as we schedule! Come for the shops and restaurants, the patios and fun exhibits, and stay for the music! We love seeing locals enjoying the melodies on their lunch breaks too! Feel free to tag us in your experiences on #MySparksStreet! See you on Sparks! 🎶

Getting Back to Sparks & Nature! We are delighted to be welcoming back the Canadian Stone Carvers for their 2022 Festival! This year's theme is 'Getting Back to Nature' celebrating the arrival of summer and the Flora and Fauna of Canada. "On the 24th, 25th and 26th of June 2022, stone carvers from Canada and beyond will congregate at the famous Sparks Street outdoor Mall in Ottawa Ontario to display their skills and creativity. Using hand tools only, participants will have 18 hours over three days to complete their pieces. The public is invited to enjoy the sights and sounds of this traditional work site and to engage with the carvers. Following the carving, on the afternoon of Sunday June 26th at 2:00pm, all pieces will be auctioned to the public, with proceeds being donated to Ottawa Innercity Ministries. The Canadian Stone Carving Festival is not a competition and is open to carvers of all levels of experience from beginner to professional. This event was created to promote craft fellowship amongst carvers, to build public awareness about the trade and to raise money for charity." The 12th annual Canadian Stone Carving Festival online auction of the completed works raised over $11,000.00 for Ottawa Innercity Ministries in 2021. Find out more - visit The Canadian Stone Carving Festival website! Images from The Canadian Stone Carving Festival

An interactive art exhibit playing with the concept of time! The hourglass from another time LAPS: a journey through time - here and now LAPS is a modern take on the traditional hourglass that gives us the opportunity to literally take control of time. From the top of their 7.8 feet (2.33 meters), the 6 giant modules invite the public to change time by turning the steering wheel at their desired pace, in one direction or the other, and to take another look at their perception of time. Time catchers are rewarded with a sound and light experience that inspires immediate wonder. Take control for a full lap of LAPS; hold your breath, sing a song, clap your hands, propose marriage, do whatever inspires you. Everyone gets to choose the time they want to spend here; this passage of time is truly yours! A little history Commonly hourglasses measure the time it takes to boil eggs or to take turns during board games. In the Middle Ages, the hourglass was used to limit the time for sermons and university lectures. Did you know that in the navy, it was used on board ships to measure their speed, time the length of watches, and even sometimes to measure the full duration of a voyage? The hourglass has traveled through time and over the centuries reinvented itself. LAPS was born out of a reflection on the uncontrollable nature of the passing of time. In a world where everything is going faster and faster, where people run desperately after time, LAPS offers a different take on the individual and collective perception of time. Here everyone gets to tame time to the same end: to be fully in the moment. Credits Creation and artistic direction: Olivier Landreville Sound and light design: Serge Maheu Design of interactive control systems: Serge Maheu Structure and engineering: Maintenance Industries Meca-Fab inc. Owner: Init Tour production: Creos Previously presented at: MONTRÉAL EN LUMIÈRE 2022 (Montréal, Canada) Downtown Des Moines 2022 (Des Moines, USA) LAPS on Sparks Street between O'Connor and Bank runs June 22 - July 10, 2022 FREE to Experience!

FREE Live Performances from The Shed on Sparks June 27 - 30! Ottawa Jazz Festival Sparks Street is thrilled to partner again for Ottawa Jazz Festival 2022! Live performances are FREE to enjoy from The Shed on Sparks between O'Connor and Bank Monday, June 27 - 30th! Here's the Sparks line-up: Monday, June 27: Steve Berndt Tuesday, June 28: DnB Wednesday, June 29: Sam Cousineau Thursday, June 30: TROIKA Daily 11:30am - 1:30pm DnB Join us for the music and stay for the shopping and patios! Our businesses' umbrellas are up, and the a/c is ON, we are ready to welcome visitors all festival long! For FULL SCHEDULE and Festival info visit Ottawa Jazz Festival!

Located a quick, FREE LRT trip from this year's main events! We’re excited to be celebrating Canada Day again in the downtown core! In honour of our nation’s special day, our patios will be prepped, our business’ door’s welcoming, our water bottle fill stations at the ready, plus entertainment! Talented Buskers will be delighting visitors by performing along our beloved pedestrian Sparks Street July 1, 2022! This year, the festival’s main event will be just a short (FREE) LRT trip from Lebreton Flats to Sparks Street. Hop onto the Confederation line and skip off at either Lyon or Queen to get back to Sparks for patio drinks and a show! We’ve got restaurants and patios offering all kinds of fare and cooling beverages for patrons up and down five blocks of traffic-free space! We invite you to play with time and check out the latest interactive art installation on the street, LAPS! We’ll also have some famously recognizable veterans from our past Ottawa International Buskerfests ready to amaze visitors with their unique and entertaining talents! Spectators may recognize the explosive acrobat, Pancho Libre, who will be returning to Sparks along with multi hooping artist Satya Bella who has been spinning and performing for over 10 years across 42 countries! Catch the shows on Sparks between 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. We can't wait to get the festivities underway again on #MySparksStreet and look forward to celebrating with you, Ottawa! SSBIA continues to encourage Ottawa Public Health guidelines and safety protocols as we work closely with them and other partners, including the City of Ottawa, Ottawa Festivals, Ottawa Tourism, and Ottawa Coalition of BIAs.

We're looking for TWO winners to round off our judging panel! Calling all BBQ Lovers! Ottawa Ribfest is almost here and #MySparksStreet has your chance to WIN a prestigious JUDGING spot! Winner will claim the coveted position of JUDGE along with ONE friend/partner in sauce of their choice! That’s right - you BOTH join the judging panel and sample the best of what our renowned Rib Trucks have to offer! Each Rib Truck will be BBQing their hearts out for Ottawa’s coveted “Champion Belt” in Best Rib, Best Chicken, Best Sauce and Best Team/In Show! The Judging will take place Wednesday, June 1 from 2:30 p.m. - 5 p.m. Our panel will travel up from Metcalfe Street sampling all the way to Kent Street. So come hungry! Then walk it off, enjoy a patio or two & all #MySparksStreet has to offer! ENTER for your chance to be an official Ottawa Ribfest JUDGE on our Instagram post! Contest Rules

PSSST, This Summer, The New HOT 89.9 will be EVERYWHERE and SPARKS STREET is along for the ride! Sparks Street is thrilled to be a sponsor of One HOT Summer 2022! Keep your eyes peeled as HOT 89.9 will be touring around the city bringing the party to every event they go to! Plus, they bring music, games, The New Hot 89.9 swag AND the chance for you to WIN $5,000 in FUN MONEY or win some awesome surprises! How will you know where they are? Be sure to listen to The New HOT 89.9 for updates from the One HOT Summer Street Team & follow on social! Check out all Sparks Street has to offer this season!

Hi Creatives, The Sparks Street BIA is seeking proposals Video Production Services, with a content summary below. Submissions to be received by May 16, 2022. Work to begin June 1, 2022. Project Background Sparks Street – bringing visitors and the surrounding community to our pedestrian oasis by showcasing through video, of the many immersive outdoor experiences happening on Sparks Street in all seasons. At time of proposal, the goal is to have the five promotional videos and accompanying still images highlighting our signature events. Events include: Ottawa Ribfest (June 1-5), Ottawa International Buskerfest (July 29-Aug 1), Poutinefest on Sparks Street (Oct. 13-16) and one additional event. Requirements and Deliverables Sparks Street BIA is seeking an experienced Video Production firm to create, develop and produce five (5) thirty (30) second to one (1) minute promotional videos and an accompanying minimum of 25 edited and proofed still images in conjunction with each event. One (1) all encompassing branded video that includes all events (thirty (seconds to one (1) minute in length). Videos and stills to include up to four (4) models, of diverse backgrounds and Sparks Street digital assets (logo and website). Project Objectives The goal of this project is to cultivate and top of mind awareness for visitors to Sparks Street get to know our outdoor programming in all seasons with major efforts to increase visits and improve surrounding business revenues. Project Scope and Effort It is anticipated that produced videos and still images will be shared on digital and traditional broadcast platforms, including web, social media, Youtube and other streaming services for promotional purposes. This also includes digital advertising placement. Content to be included as a resource for our membership and stakeholders where appropriate. We anticipate content will be used commercially, for promotion of leasing, urban planning, destination marketing and tourism, as well, and to support our Municipal and Federal partners (including City of Ottawa, Ottawa Tourism, National Capital Commission) The scope of work would include but not limited to: Meetings with Sparks Street BIA staff Highly creative, collaborative project Planning and Onsite Scheduling of key programming events Writing and Shot list outline to meet targeted requirements Sourcing, booking talent and coordinating call-sheets Editing films to include Sparks Street and event logos and website Submitting drafts of films for review, including music approvals and photo selects Implementation of any feedback and comments Create and submit the final videos The videos must be shot and submitted in a format Sparks Street to use for future social media and other digital initiatives We do not anticipate archival footage being required. Special effects may be required, for process. Animation may also be required. Preferred Qualifications Experience: a fresh, agency approach and proven expertise in designing and on-brand videos particularly around the topic of destination marketing is essential. Interested? Please contact us for the detailed RFP.

We're HIRING! The Sparks Street Business Improvement Area (SSBIA) & Mall Authority (SSMA) is seeking a Sparks Street Student Ambassador. The successful candidate will assist in execution and development of events that enhance the pedestrian experience on Sparks Street. The ideal candidate would help with promotional activities including planning and liaising with coordinators, vendors, contract preparation, event set-up and take-down, the creation of digital content and other correspondence. Position Summary: Reporting to the Site Manager and working in a small team, the Sparks Street Student Ambassador will be hands on in the delivery of events and programming throughout the summer season. Position Type: Full Time –May – August. Daytime, evenings, and weekends. Compensation: $18.00 per hour Key Responsibilities: Help produce Sparks Street events including Ottawa Ribfest, Ottawa International Buskerfest, and seasonal programming elements Assist Site Manager in the facilitation of event and programming logistics Assist Site Manager with traffic management and general site maintenance to enhance and contribute to the pedestrian experience on Sparks Street Support and create digital content (images, video and written) for web and social media Other duties as required Required Skills and Attributes: Currently achieving a post-secondary degree/diploma and/or related experience Willingness to learn, take direction and be adaptable in a constantly changing environment Availability to work evenings and weekends Comfortable working outdoors in a variety of weather conditions Ability to work under pressure with rigid timelines Good verbal and written communications skills Knowledge of proper methods of lifting, loading, and stacking heavy materials Language: English required, French considered an asset Good working knowledge of social media channels To Apply: Please send resume and cover letter by email to Executive Director Kevin McHale, using the Subject Line: “Student Ambassador Position” kevin@sparkslive.com Application Deadline: May 23, 2022 This position is made possible by the Government of Canada’s Canada Summer Jobs grant successfully achieved by SSBIA through Employment and Social Development Canada.